Beam.



v witnesses PATENTED APR.9,1907.

G. B. & G. D. MOLEAN- BEAM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12, 1906.

.55. $1 I A; E El.

UNITED STATES PATENT- ost ich GEORGE B. MoLEAN, OF ELIZABETH, ILLINOIS, AND GREGORY D. MoLEAN, 'OF POWERSVILLE, MISSOURI BEAM To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE B. MOLEAN and GREGORY D. McLEAN, citizens of the United States, residing at Elizabeth, county of J o I) aviess and State of Illinois, and Powersville, county of Putnam, and State of, Missouri, respectively, have invented certain new and. useful Im rovements 1n Beams; and

beams, and be varieth in we do .herebydec are the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suchas will enable others skilled in the art to whichit said blocks or sections together.

The invention further comprises the pro- .duction of a beam'that is made up .from 'a plurality of sections'and is "provided with meansfor securing the same; together and means for allowing the securing means to.

continuously exert pressure upon the various blocks'for holding. .the same yieldingly yet firmly in operative position. y

The Ob ectin View is a reduction of beams that are madefrom a p urality of sections and adapted to be made of an desired length Without in any way injuring the beam.

Another object in View is the production of a beam made from a plurality of sections having ways formed therein for accommodating Wires Whenthe said beam is used for a fence-post and provided also with securing means when the said beam road-tie. I I

. With these and other objects in view the invention comprises certain novel construc. tions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is used for a rail- I represents aside elevation of a beam conwith the beam i- 'structed in accordance with the present in. vention, certain parts being broken away to disclose'cushionin means used in connection I ig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the blocks from which the beam depicted in.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed September 12. 1906; I Serial No. 384.361.

Patented April 9, 1907.

' Fig. 1 is made up. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of one end of the beam seen in Figs. 1 and-'2 with a slightly-modified form of spring or cushioning means. I

The present invention relates to beams of anytdesired material, but preferably that class made from cement or other like mate rial, and is adapted to be used as fence-posts, railroad-ties, and any other purpose for which beams or pillars are re uired. drawings I have shown simp y for, the urpose of illustration a railroad-tie ;.but it wi lbe evident that by removing the rails from the In the beam it isadapted for any ofthepurposes I for which beams are used.

Referring more,. articularly'to the drawlock made from any deings, 1 indicates a preferably from cements sired material, but and the like. It 'wi I is formed with a V-shapedportion 2 at one end and at the other end with a hollowed-out or V-shaped portion 3, that is adapted to accommodate the V-shaped portion 2 of an? other block. Passing through block-1', preferably centrall thereof, is a passage or aper be'noted that the same ture 5, which 1s adapted to accommodate a securing-rod 6 when a lurality of blocks 1 are assembled, as seen in *ig. 1. Formed inthe block 1, preferably on the V-shaped portion 2, is a groove 7, which is adapted to accommodate wires for a wire fence when the beam isused as a fence-post. Formed in the block 1 at right angles to the groove 7 are a plurality.

of openings 8,.which are adapted to accommodate securing-bolts 9 when the beam is to be used fora ra1lroad-tie. y

In providing the blocks 1 for forming a beam of any desired length I preferably'provide one block, as 10, with asquare portion on one end, as 1 1, so as to give a firm bearing for a washer 12, which throughthe rod 6 holds the beam together. The end block .10 is preferably made witha hollowed-out portion 13, in which is located a spring (14', which.

presses one end against the block 10 and the other against the washer 12, and thus holds the various blocks of thebeam securely together with a yielding ressure.

As will be evidentfrom Fig. 1, the rod 6 -mus t be made sufficiently long to pass through the beam desired to be made, so as to bind. the sections or blocks together. The bar 6 is preferably threaded at one end, as 15,

for accommodating a nut, which rests against a metallic cap 16. The spring 14 may be made of any desired strength, and, taken in connection wvith the rod 6 and tighteningnut 17, mounted thereon, securely holds the blocks together, but with a yielding pressure,

so as to take up any wear from jarring or other causes. When the beam is used for a railroadtie, suitable fastening-clamps 19 19, 20, and 21 are used to hold the rails 23 and 23 in place. The clamps or fastening means are referably held in place by bolts 9, as will be early seen in Fig. 2; I

It will be evident that other fastening means also may be used as well as the particular fastening means above indicated. The spring and hollowed-out arrangement shown in connection with the block is the preferable construction; but sometimes it is found desirable to use a slightly-modified form, as shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 4 it will be been that a cushioning means made up from a plurality of springs, as 24 and 25, is employed. Either one of these springs may be used independently or bothtogether, as shown, according to the various requirements The spring 25, as will be evident, simply rests upon the top or end of the metallic cap and surrounds the bolt 6, while the spring 24 is in the nature of a spring-bar having an opening formed at an,

intermediate point through which the bolt 6 passes,tl 1e ends of the bar being bent laterally into engagement with the cap, so as to have a spring action. It will thus be seen that by tightening or loosening the nut at the end of the bolt the tension of the two springs 24 and 25 can be regulated as desired.

From the use of a plurality of blocks, as 1, a beam of any desired material may be formed of any desired length, and, as will also be evident, the beam may be lengthened or shortened at any time to accomplish any desired end. When the beam is used for a fence- 0st, any desired type of fence may be made by simply adding or removing any desired number of blocks. In the use of the beam for ties of railways it is very desirable that the beam may be lengthened, so as to be used at the point where switches are located and extra long beams or ties are necessary.

' By thus producing a beam that may be built the longbeams necessary at the point at 'ch a switch is located is provided for withlong beams for use at said oints.

Having thus fully descri ed our invention, What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'

' 1. A beam com'prising a plurality of interchangeable sections, means for securing the same together, and means for cushioning the eifect of said securing means.

2. A. concrete beam comprising a plurality of interchangeable sections, and cushioning means for securing the same together.

3. A beam comprising a plurality ofinterchangeable sections formed withways therein, a barpassing centrally of said sections for securing the same together, and a spring for 'cushioningthe effect of said securing-bar.

4. A concrete beam comprising a plurality of interchangeable sections, a bar passing therethrough for securing the sametogether,

and a cushioning means positioned at the end of said bar for taking up any loose motion between said sections.

5. A beam comprising a plurality of interchangeable sections, means for securing said sections together, means for taking up the lost motion between said. sections, and means for adjusting. the tension of said lost-motion means.

6. YA beam comprising a plurality of sections, means for securing the same together, means for cushioning the effect of said securing means, and means for holding said cushioning means in position.

7. In a beam, the combination of-a plurality of interchangeable sections fitting together end to end, each of said sections being provided at one end with a projection, and at the opposite end with a recess adapted to receive the projection upon the ad acent section, and means for connecting the sections together.

8. In a beam, the combination of a plurality of sections, each of which is provided with a bolt-receiving opening, and also with means fonengaging a wire, and means for connecting the sections end to end.

9. In a beam, the combination of a plurality of interchangeable sections, each of said sections being formed at one end with a tongue, and at the opposite end with a recess adapted to receive the tongue on the adjacent sections', the said tongues be' formed with grooves for the reception of wires, and means for holding the sections together.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

- 'GEORGE B.-McLE'AN. Witnesses: I

J. O. MCKENZIE,

A. H. WEIR.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GREGORY D. McLEAN.

. Witnesses:

E. N. PAYLEY, W. E. BRUnER. 

